Question:
In response to a letter
from Senator Carl Levin concerning the CIA's investigation
of Mohammed Atta, CIA Director George Tenet stated:
"We have
been able to corroborate only two visits by Atta to
the Czech Republic: one in late 1994, when he passed
through en route to Syria; the other in June 2000, when,
according to detainee reporting, he departed for the
United states from Prague because he thought a non-EU
member country would be less likely to keep meticulous
travel data."
Did the CIA miss a third trip by Atta to the Czech Republic
on May 30,2000.
Answer:
No, according to the CIA, which claims that the "Atta"
identified at the Prague airport on May 30,2000 was
"a case of mistaken identity," suggesting
it may have been a Pakistani traveler with a name "similar"
to Atta’s who attempted to enter the Czech Republic
"May 30–31, 2000," but was forced to
return to Germany.(CIA cable, "report re traveler
to Prague," Dec. 8, 2001.)
Yes, According to Czech officials, who claim Atta flew
on Lufthansa Airlines from Hamburg to Ruzyne International
Airport visit on May 30, 2000-- a day before the Czech
visa he applied for came through. Atta's face
was reportedly recorded on the security CCTV at the
passport control, when Atta was directed to the transit
area. Although he spent about 6 hours before he
returned to Germany, he reputedly appears on the hidden
security cameras for only 6 minutes. According
to Czech intelligence officials, only a person familiar
with the blind spots in the security system could have
avoided these cameras for such a prolonged period.
So Czech intelligence assumed that Atta, who would not
himself have this knowledge, had a meeting with an unknown
party on May 30th.
Since the 9-11 Commission did not question Czech officials,
but relied on the CIA briefing it received, the issue
remains unresolved.
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